Mellifont, conspiracy of

In Irish history, the 13th-century revolt by members of the Irish Cistercian community against the mother house in Cîteaux, France, led by the abbot and community of the monastery at Mellifont, County Louth. The conspiracy, while indicative of contemporary tensions between native and Anglo-Norman Cistercian communities, was initially a reaction against disciplinary measures incurred by the absenteeism of Irish abbots from the annual Cisterician general chapter held at Cîteaux. The reaction escalated in 1217 when the abbot of Mellifont barred visiting Cistercian inspectors from entering the monastery's grounds.

By 1221 reports to the Pope from further inspectors portrayed a state of affairs lacking in discipline and religious observance throughout the many Cistercian houses in Ireland, particularly the daughter-house of Mellifont. In 1228 Stephen of Lexington, an English abbot, was sent to Mellifont to tackle the problem. After initial opposition, the situation was abated by reaffiliating the Irish daughter-houses to Cistercian monasteries outside Ireland, as well as introducing stricter requirements for new members.